Trapani Shark, it’s chaos: the team may not show up in Bologna

In Trapani, the climate continues to be red-hot. After the home loss to Varese (88-95 the result), ds Valeriano D’Orta read in the press room a communique in which the Sicilians announced their possible absence in Bologna. “The Trapani Shark – said the note – takes note of the recent determinations made by the Basketball League and the Italian Basketball Federation, which represent an act of blatant injustice and persecutory fury against the club, irreparably compromising its competitiveness and the’fairness of the entire championship. As was also seen tonight, where under normal conditions we would have respected what are obvious differences in the standings with our opponents”.

Marco Enzo Venturini

“The repeated and, as far as we are concerned, unjust decision – continued the Trapani Shark – not to seat coach Alex Latini on the bench, coupled with the disproportionate and unfounded sanctions imposed on the club, despite the full substantive regularity documented on several occasions, the good faith shown and the’acquittal by the Federal Court for President Antonini on the issue of tax credits, is not only an operational obstacle but a real attack on the club’s image and survival”.

“Such measures, which ignore glaring precedents such as that of Cantù in 2019, and Brescia in 2020, where the FIP actively favored flexible solutions to avoid collapses to the entire system, highlight an unacceptable double standard and harassing treatment targeted against the Trapani Shark. Seriously undermining the basic principles of sports fairness and equality among affiliates. In this climate of total uncertainty, arbitrariness, and lack of dialogue, most of the players have expressed their willingness to leave” explained the club.

Hence Trapani’s resounding announcement ahead of the next Serie A match: “In keeping with the fairness that has always guided the club’s actions, the club announces that it is seriously and urgently considering the’option of not taking part in the scheduled match in Bologna valid for the 14th round of the championship”.

“This extreme decision is not a whim, but a necessary act of protest to publicly denounce the gravity of what we are suffering and to urge a constructive and institutional confrontation with the competent bodies. In the conviction that dialogue and mutual respect are fundamental to ensure fairness and protection for all components of the sports system” concluded Trapani.